'A one-off person' - Emotional tributes at Glen Hansard’s funeral in Dublin

The funeral has taken place of Ballymun-born singer, Frames frontman and Oscar winner Glen Hansard after the 56-year-old was killed in a motorcycle accident last week.

The funeral entitled ‘A Celebration of the Life of Glen Hansard’ took place in St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin on Tuesday, August 4.

The funeral service began with Críost Liom, sung by Peadar Ó Riada and Cór Chúil Aodha, the west Cork Gaeltacht male choir.

Among the gifts representing aspects of Glen’s life was a guitar brought up by ‘The Frames’ band member Colm Mac Con Iomaire.

The Irish president and Taoiseach were each represented at the funeral.

Many famous Irish faces came to pay respects to the beloved musician.

These included Bono, Dermot Kennedy and Hozier among others.

Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder also came to pay respects and later performed Glen’s ‘Song of Good Hope’ alongside The Frames and Markéta Irglová.

Poet Breandáin Ó Beaglaoich from Kerry performed a poem As Gaeilge before speaking about his friend.

“A one-off person, who’s like again we won’t meet.

“I’ll be fond of you forever Glen, you beautiful, beautiful man.”

Glen’s brother Richard delivered a heartfelt eulogy about his what his brother meant to him.

“Glen said once that when you lose someone you don’t really lose them.

“If you have the strength and will you will gain them back and inherit the best parts of them, and we have.

“Thank you Glen.”

Glen’s wife, Finnish poet Maire Saaritsa also gave a touching tribute to him.

“As Glen’s wife, I want to thank him for the life we shared, searching for truth and beauty side by side.”

Holding back tears, she explained how their 5-year-old son, Christy, couldn’t be at the funeral as he is ‘too young to witness or understand an event of this scale’.

She ended her speech with a poem for Glen, in return for the songs Glen had written for her.

Very Reverend William Morton spoke of the way Glen lived his life in such a humble and charitable way.

This included Glen busking yearly on Grafton street to raise funds for the homeless as well as raising over 1.5 million euros in a virtual busk at St Patrick’s Cathedral during Covid alongside fellow musicians for charity, and being a humble friend to those at the cathedral throughout.

Glen’s older brother Gary gave a quick word on how blown away their family were by the outpouring of love for the musician before performing a song for his brother.

Lisa O'Neill then performed her song ‘Old Note’ before Damien Dempsey played 'Sing All Our Cares Away'.

U2 frontman Bono played a voice message from Patti Smith directed towards Glen before reading and singing U2’s song ‘Beautiful Day’.

Bob Dylan’s ‘Forever Young’ was then performed passionately by various musicians including Bono, The Edge, Eddie Vedder, Imelda May and Lisa O'Neill as Glen’s coffin was lifted out of the Cathedral.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family has asked that donations be made to:

Simon Community: https://www.dubsimon.ie/donate

Ukrainian Action: https://www.ukrainianaction.ie/donate